Tag: The Netherlands

Reitsum day 2

Today we explored a bit of Friesland. It is a beautiful and fascinating area. Not far from where we are staying is the De Heining Pumping station. It’s one of the giant pumping stations that is used to pump water from the lakes and canals and reclaimed farm land out to the salt marsh on the other side of the dike.

Giant screws used to pump water
Salt marsh

Next we went to the village of Minnertsga where one of my distant ancestors, Hendrick Epke Banta was born. The writing on the stone next to the door of the church says the tower was built in 1505. The drive through the villages and farmland to get there was fun.

Giant draft horse we saw on the way.
Windmill and wind turbine
The church in Minnertsga

The sandstone plaque by the front door

Our last stop on our exploration was the Fries Museum in Leeuwarden It all about the history and people of Friesland.

An old map of Friesland
Originally the towns in Friesland were built on mounds to protect them from flooding. Now the mounds provide archaeological finds.

We had dinner in the nearby town of Dokkum at Grand Café de Waugh

grand Café de Waugh
My chefs special pork

Amsterdam to Reitsum

Today it rained non stop until about 3. But somehow it just gives more romantic atmosphere to Amsterdam. We walked around a bit to find a coffee shop for breakfast.

Finding a coffee shop
Coffee

After breakfast we packed up and walked to the rental car office.

A cat and a window seen on the way to the rental car office

We had a few problems with the rental car process but eventually we were on the road out of Amsterdam.

Driving along the 20 mile long Afsluitdilk causeway. Those are sluice gates
Another picture on the Afsluitdijk. A lot of it just looked like a big grass berm.

Tonight we are staying in a former church in the tiny town of Reitsum in Friesland. One of my immigrant ancestors, Hendrick Epke Banta was born not far from here in 1655. It is absolutely beautiful country.

Bij De Pastorie where we are staying
The sitting area in our room.
Arriving

Hanover, Germany to Amsterdam, The Netherlands

We had a busy day today. We went out and found a great place for coffee and pastry.

Our coffee shop for breakfast, Machwitz Kaffee
This very cool building was right across the street from our hotel
I’m going to miss fresh croissants for breakfast!

Our train leaving Hanover wasn’t until about 4 so after we checked out of the hotel we stored our bags and went exploring.

Because it was a weekday the town hall was open. Inside we walked around a bit. They had 4 large scale models of Hanover over the years.

Inside the New Town Hall
Hanover in 1689
In Opera House Square outside the coffee shop we went to.

We stopped for coffee and a snack.

Inside the coffee house

Although we had first class train tickets we did not have an assigned seat. After we got on the train we found a place in second class to stow our bags and then, after we had pull out of the station, we found a conductor in one of the first class compartments. She found us seats even though almost every seat was taken. The train ride from Hanover to Amsterdam took almost 5 hours.

Duke’s seat. He has gone to retrieve our bags and stow them on the luggage rack in our compartment

In Amsterdam we walked to our hotel and then found a Dutch bar where we could have beer and a meat and cheese board for dinner.

Inside the bar where we had dinner
Dinner
Walking back from dinner